LeanForward Communications and Training is currently exploring new uses of technology - remote and virtual communications related to emergency management, education, and federal government programs. LeanForward recently supported a three year communications and community outreach team working with the public to approve the largest NEPA Environmental Impact Study done in recent history for the United States Air Force. The study was approved moving the Sentinel (GBSD) Deployment and Minuteman III Decommissioning and Disposal project forward.LeanForward continues to consult with health emergency preparedness and response clients providing blended learning, program management, conference development / implementation, and public outreach.

Gregory Manz was the Program Manager of Education, Training, and Performance Development at the Bureau of Health Emergency Management (BHEM), Epidemiology and Response Division, New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH). Manz's Team was funded from both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR). The Team working closely with the Center for Domestic Preparedness and the Emergency Management Institute, was focused on the number one Health and Human Services (HHS) capability of community preparedness providing training leading to participation in State-wide full scale infrastructure exercises. Beginning with H1N1 Pandemic Manz’s team with consulting support created multi-agency training and tabletop and full-scale exercises to operationalize the State’s Response Plans while expanding emergency health care preparedness and response throughout the Ebola and Zika outbreaks. The Team developed and funded a breakthrough Tribal Infectious Disease and Emergency Management Workshop gathering Federal and State agencies together with Tribal health care and emergency management practitioners and coordinated the Annual Statewide Partners in Preparedness Conference linking health, homeland security and emergency management practitioners. Homeland Security Exercise & Evaluation Program (HSEEP) certified Team members facilitated design through After Action Reporting exercises consistent with FEMA/DHS Core Capabilities. A learning management system coordinator and an instructional designer managed all online content and reporting for the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command System (ICS) training requirements.

KMConsulting designs competency based adult learning materials specializing in Safeguards and Security for the Department of Energy (DOE) Complex. Mr. Manz provides a full range of services from job task analysis and competency development to classroom and online training.Since 2003 KMConsulting has designed and developed Environmental Safety & Health (ES&H), OSHA Lab Standards, Explosives, Hazardous Materials, and Laser safety online certification training for Sandia National Laboratories. Other projects with Sandia include online procurement and property management courses, a blended learning curriculum for Lockheed Martin’s SNL recruiting program, and online certification training in Classified Matter Protection and Control (CMPC) meeting DOE TAP requirements.Working with a team of consultants in 2006 for the NNSA National Training Center (NTC) in Albuquerque, Manz developed and implemented an Organizational Training Needs Assessment for the Personal Security Division (PSD) Division of the Albuquerque DOE Service Center and contractor. A training plan was developed based on the assessment for both the Federal and contract workforce development.

Project Director of a five year contract to design, implement, and evaluate the workforce development program for Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). Integrated Laboratory HR initiatives (workforce planning, career development, education programs, and organizational development) into the design of the center.With the Management Team determined resources, skills, and expertise needed for the Center and assigned team members accordingly. Coached and mentored team members.Designed and managed the internal and eternal communications and marketing strategy. Produced four internal workforce development conferences annually. Oversight of funding ($4.5 million annually) for an assessment center, career development and education programs, a mentoring program, and the High Performance Institute.Implemented the web-based online course selection and registration website – “The Virtual Training Center.” Trained registrar in new procedures to facilitate online selection and registration of courses, crediting students, and providing “best in class” customer service for learners.Partnered with Motorola University and Carnegie Mellon Univeristy to license and produce CD-ROM based “Just-in-Time Lecture” technologies.Managed production of the intranet web presence, and created the 1998 Performance Management website for rollout of the online Performance Management System. Site won excellence award from the Kacina Chapter of Technical Communicators. Managed the technical rollout of the “LANL Leadership Center”. Directed the production of all printed materials, website, CD-ROMS, and online interactive tools from external vendors.Served as the Chairman of the LANL Laboratory-wide Web Based Training Committee.Presented with the 1998 Contractor Appreciation Program Award from the Training Integration Office.

Designed, built, and staffed one of the first US multimedia studios for electronic publishing of Mayo Clinic health and medical information. Managed nine graphic and animation workstations, a component digital online video editing suite, a non-linear video editing suite, a media conversion suite, a digital audio recording studio, an insert stage, and a staff of twenty-five. Established workflow to multimaster media assets for publication in multiple formats. Directed development of proprietary software to manage and archive online studio media. Partnered with clients including McMillan/McGraw Hill, Time Life, and the Kaiser Family Medical Foundation. Served as Executive Producer of Kaiser’s “Living with AIDS” – a CD_ROM for use in clinics and the home. Targeted at an inner city audience, this disc minimized the role of text using audio and a user-friendly graphic interface. Established an internship program with the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) and taught graduating seniors “Advanced Multimedia.”IVI Publishing/Mayo Clinic published 26 retail CD_ROMS in 1994. In 1995 the studio began designing and publishing to cable television and web-based services. Media assets were re-published in seven additional languages. IVI Publishing is a publically traded software startup firm that was sold in 1995.

Selected, contracted, and directed the development of one of the first hybrid video/digital media production studios in the United States. Assessed the Corporate needs in multimedia technology. Established media production budgets for a $60M multimedia K-6 educational curriculum. Teamed with Intel to develop multimedia authoring software and digital video PC playback (DVI). Upgraded a PC-based graphics department to UNIX workstations. Managed the production budget and staff of 15. MediaShare Corporation is a publically traded software startup that was sold in 1994.

Project Manager with the WLC Interactive Technology Group. Developed and produced interactive computer-based videodisc adult learning applications for 3M (health care); Ford (customer service); General Motors (management); and John Hancock (sales). Produced a pioneer bilingual museum application for the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, NM.

Responsible for interactive script management tools, audio, video, and stillframe production. On-line pre-mastering and replication of videodiscs. Graphics facilitator for quarterly workshops. Clients included AT&T, Digital Controls, and the Nebraska Department of Economic Development – Tourism. The Group was established with funding from Annenberg Foundation to develop interactive computer training technologies. The Group developed the first video overlay card for personal computers.